AN 11-YEAR-OLD girl screamed and pleaded for help to a 999 operator as she watched her mum being viciously attacked by her then partner.

Teesside Crown Court heard the child told the operator: “Please can you send some police. He is hurting my mum, please.”

Karl Rowntree, 37, was yesterday jailed for the assault on mum Joanne Lund - who is now pregnant with his child - which took place on February 20 this year.

The court heard during the evening Rowntree was at their home drinking a bottle of Lambrini when he became moody.

After an argument he was asked to leave, which he agreed to do, but as he went to collect his belongings he pushed Miss Lund on to a sofa and she dialled 999. Rowntree, of Queen Street, Redcar, then pushed her into the front door, causing a glass panel to break, before repeatedly slamming her hand in a door.

Miss Lund remained on the phone to the police as the incident took place and it was around this point her 11-year-old daughter, who had witnessed most of the attack, took the phone and made her plea for help.

Miss Lund was taken to hospital and treated with painkillers and an arm sling.

She later told police: “Karl has totally ruined my life and I just want him out of our lives forever.”

She said the fact she was now pregnant with his child did not alter her feelings.

Rowntree, who has previous convictions for domestic violence towards Miss Lund and other ex-partners, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm.

His barrister Paul Abrahams said his client “hates himself” and had looked into taking classes for anger management and to control his alcohol consumption. “There is a real prospect of him changing his attitude with that,” said Mr Abrahams.

“There is hope that he can develop as a person. He hates himself for it, he is disgusted at what he has done.”

Judge Peter Bowers told Rowntree: “The way you behaved was intolerable. My problem is that first of all it was in the presence of a child and secondly that it went on for so long, even though your partner was on the telephone to the police.

“I would have liked to have helped you but I’m afraid it reads too bad.”

He jailed Rowntree for 20 months.

As he was led to the cells, Rowntree said to the judge: “Can I just say I’m sorry?” He then shouted to ex-partner Miss Lund, who was sat in the public gallery: “I love you, darling.”